Methods for generating design plans for physical spaces

ABSTRACT

A method for generating a design plan for a physical space includes providing a main computer having a database of design products and a remote computer in communication with the main computer, placing an object within a physical space, directing a camera toward the physical space, using the camera to capture a first digital image of the physical space at a first angle and a second digital image of the physical space at a second angle, with the object visible in both digital images. The captured digital images are transmitted to the main computer, photogrammetrically assimilated to produce a three-dimensional data set rendering of the physical space. The method includes using the three-dimensional data set rendering to create a design plan for the physical space, storing the design plan on the main computer, and using the remote computer for accessing the design plan from the main computer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/991,572, filed on Nov. 18, 2004, which published as U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0283345, now U.S. Pat. No.8,543,358, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/524,207, filed on Nov. 21, 2003, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention involves the field of computer-assisted design ingeneral and specifically relates to a method and system for generating adirected design and order placement of materials therefore.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Designers, architects and planners are often used by clients to helpcreate a design and plan specific for a particular application. Inparticular, a homeowner, customer or builder may use a designer tocreate a kitchen layout setting forth a plan for location and placementof kitchen cabinets and appliances. The client may then select fromavailable cabinet, counter and appliance types, which are then orderedfrom a vendor for placement. The overall design plan and selection aredetermined using aesthetic, functional and budgetary constraints.

The designer must be able to visualize the space requiring design, usingblueprints, photographic images or a site visit. The client must be ableto view samples of cabinets, appliances and countertops, either usingphotographs, or by in person viewing of a vendor's products.

Interaction between the designer and the client yields a design planmeeting the client's requirements.

It is well recognized that computer assistance improves the efficiencyof the overall design program, reduces inefficiency particularly inmeasuring and product selection, and improves client access to broadselections of materials information.

Graphical computer systems for generating design plans have beendescribed in the art. (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,966,454; 6,005,969 and6,459,435). In specific applications, methods for computer-based kitchendesign are known in the art. (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,255,207; and5,975,908). Kiosk computer terminals, which are generallyself-contained, enclosed units having computer, video, and audiocapabilities, often with a touch-screen are known in the art. (See U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,437,809; 6,415,291; 5,552,994; 5,949,411; 6,029,142;6,536,663; 6,381,583; and 5,615,123. A kiosk terminal is often connectedto a host computer system. (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,041). Thus, kiosksare often internet-mediated and network-mediated to effect electronictransactions using user-provided specifications.

Numerous websites on the Internet purporting to provide computer-basedkitchen design, both relying on computer software alone andcomputer-assisted, but mediated by human designers. Another example isthe website for Home Portfolio, Inc., which presents a selection ofdesign products and directs the user to their nearest retailer.

The above advances in the field notwithstanding, the design processremains cumbersome, inefficient and difficult for many clients who areunable to achieve a directed design specific to their site and to obtainand order a wide selection of site specific materials meeting theirdesign criteria.

The present invention solves these long-standing problems bycoordinating a method for the directed design process, the designer,product selection and ordering with site-specific detail, images andmeasurements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a methodfor generating a directed design for a physical space requiring designcomprising the steps of (a) maintaining a main computer, wherein themain computer is capable of exchanging data with a remote computer; (b)providing a means for acquiring digitally encoded signals representingan image of the physical space; (c) storing the digitally encodedsignals in a imaging computer storage medium; (d) transmitting thestored digitally encoded signals to a design center; (e) designing aninterior design plan using the transmitted digitally encoded signals;(f) storing the design plan in a design computer storage medium; (g)transmitting the stored design plan to the main computer; and (h)providing for remote computer communication link access to the storeddesign plan.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system forgenerating a directed design, the system comprising (a) a main computer,wherein the main computer is capable of exchanging data with a remotecomputer; (b) a means for accepting digitally encoded signalsrepresenting an image of a physical space requiring design; (c) a meansfor storing the digitally encoded signals in a imaging computer storagemedium; (d) a means for transmitting the stored digitally encodedsignals to a design center; (e) a designer for designing an interiordesign plan using the transmitted digitally encoded signals; (f) a meansfor storing the design plan in a design computer storage medium; (g) ameans for transmitting the stored design plan to the main computer; and(h) a means for providing for remote computer communication link accessto the stored design plan.

These and other preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Flow chart describing an exemplary interaction of a client at akiosk for kitchen design located at a physical vendor location.

FIG. 2: Flow chart describing an exemplary interaction of a client at akiosk for kitchen design located at a physical vendor location.

FIG. 3: Flow chart describing an exemplary interaction of a client at akiosk for kitchen design located at a physical vendor location.

FIG. 4: Representation of a preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribing touch screen options and administrative options at a kiosk.

FIG. 5: Representation of a preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribing direct design at a kiosk.

FIG. 6: Representation of a preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribing member login at a kiosk.

FIG. 7: Representation of a preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribing kitchen design at a kiosk.

FIG. 8: Representation of a preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribing personal management system for a kitchen design projectaccessible on the world wide web or at a kiosk.

FIG. 9: Representation of a preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribing design product selection and price quotation accessible onthe world wide web or at a kiosk.

FIG. 10: Representation of a preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribing quick quote option at a kiosk.

FIG. 11: Representation of a preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribing live help option at a kiosk.

FIG. 12: Representation of a preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribing live help option at a kiosk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a method for generating a directed designfor a physical space requiring design comprising the steps of (a)maintaining a main computer, wherein the main computer is capable ofexchanging data with a remote computer; (b) providing a means foracquiring digitally encoded signals representing an image of thephysical space; (c) storing the digitally encoded signals in a imagingcomputer storage medium; (d) transmitting the stored digitally encodedsignals to a design center; (e) designing an interior design plan usingthe transmitted digitally encoded signals; (f) storing the design planin a design computer storage medium; (g) transmitting the stored designplan to the main computer; and (h) providing for remote computercommunication link access to the stored design plan. It is contemplatedthat stored images may accurately represent true image measurements anddimensions. It is further contemplated that design plan may representactual measurements and images.

According to still anther embodiment of the invention, wherein theremote computer is capable of transmitting a data request to the maincomputer. According to still yet another embodiment of the presentinvention, the method further comprises the step of transmitting anorder request for the design product from the remote computer to themain computer. According to a further embodiment of the invention, aplurality of vendor computers exchange product data information with themain computer. Still according to another embodiment of the invention,the method is further comprising the step of displaying the design planon the remote computer. According to another embodiment of theinvention, the method is further comprising the step of displaying aplurality of design products on the kiosk, corresponding to user searchcriteria. It is specifically contemplated that design products may bestored in a plurality of databases, which may be independentlymaintained by a plurality of vendors. According to this embodiment, auser may select from a variety of displayed vendor products and stylessuch as in the case of kitchen design: cabinetry, countertops, fixtures,appliances and hardware. According to this embodiment, the userselection may be effected through the use of a touch screen type kiosk.According to a variant embodiment, the user selection may be effectedvia a keyboard, keypad or pointing device. According to another variantembodiment, the selection may be effected at the user's personal homecomputer via an online communications link such as the Internet.According to another embodiment of the invention, the remote computer isan electronic computer kiosk, wherein the kiosk is electronically linkedto a main computer. According to yet another embodiment of theinvention, the method is further comprising the step of transmitting thestored digitally encoded signals to the main computer. According tostill another embodiment, the design center comprises a human designer.According to yet still another embodiment of the invention, the designcenter comprises a design computer. It is specifically contemplated thatthe design computer may be a computing device dedicated specifically todesign function and directed design plan generation. According to analternative embodiment of this invention, the design computer is themain computer. The design computer is capable of executing softwareprograms facilitating generation of the design plan. According to afurther embodiment of the invention, the electronic computer kiosk islocated at a physical location, the location being a vendor of designproducts. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, thedirected design is a kitchen design plan. It is specificallycontemplated that this invention may be embodied in generating a designfor a variety of plans including but not limited to any field requiringdesign such as landscaping, building, interiors, exteriors, clothing andproduct placement. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,the design product is a kitchen design product. According to yet afurther embodiment of the invention, the main computer stores datarelated to a plurality of design products. According to a preferredembodiment of this invention, the method further comprises the step ofdisplaying data related to the design product on the remote computer.According to still yet another embodiment of this invention, the meansfor accepting digitally encoded signals is a digital camera. Alternativeimaging devices such as digitizers and scanner are specificallycontemplated by the invention. According to one embodiment of thisinvention, conventional photographs taken of the space requiring designare scanned into digital format for transmission to the design center.According to another embodiment, a user captures images using a portablecell phone based imaging device. According to still another embodimentof this invention, the digitally encoded signals encode atwo-dimensional image of the space requiring design, reflected as thesite-plan dimensions. According to one embodiment of this invention, theactual dimensions of the image represented by the digitally encodedsignals are calculated as a scale factor, wherein the scale factor hasunits of length per pixel and is obtained by (a) establishing a knowndistance in the image, the known distance having a first point and anend point, and dividing the known distance by the number of pixelsrepresented on the straight line between the first point and the endpoint of the known distance; (b) measuring a pixel distance on theimage, the pixel distance having a first pixel and a last pixel, whereinthe pixel distance is the number of pixels represented on the straightline between the first pixel and the last pixel; and (c) multiplying thepixel distance by the scale factor. The present invention specificallycontemplates alternative methods of photogrammetry and pixel analysis inorder to transform various two-dimensional images of the space intospecific dimensions. The present invention contemplates that displaysmay include videographic audio representations in a real-time fashion,including streaming video and audio. The present invention furtherprovides the method further comprising the step of displaying the designplan on a virtual reality device. In a particular embodiment, thevirtual reality device is a device worn by a user. In a most preferredembodiment of this invention, the virtual reality device is a headset.It is also specifically contemplated that smells may be introduced intothe virtual reality device, thus providing a user with a more completesense of environment. According to one such embodiment, a user wearing avirtual reality headset can experience a virtual kitchen complete withthe aromas of cooked food.

The present invention also provides system for generating a directeddesign, the system comprising (a) a main computer, wherein the maincomputer is capable of exchanging data with a remote computer; (b) ameans for accepting digitally encoded signals representing an image of aphysical space requiring design; (c) a means for storing the digitallyencoded signals in a imaging computer storage medium; (d) a means fortransmitting the stored digitally encoded signals to a design center;(e) a designer for designing an interior design plan using thetransmitted digitally encoded signals; (f) a means for storing thedesign plan in a design computer storage medium; (g) a means fortransmitting the stored design plan to the main computer; and (h) ameans for providing for remote computer communication link access to thestored design plan. The present invention also provides a computerprogram product to effectuate the provided method.

The present invention may be practiced on a single computer, preferablyusing a client-server architecture. However, because the presentinvention preferably involves storage and/or searching of large numbersof graphical images of design products, the present invention preferablyis implemented on a client-server system, wherein at least one clientcomputer and at least one server computer is connected over a network,such as the Internet.

The Internet is a worldwide-decentralized network of computers havingthe ability to communicate with each other. The Internet has gainedbroad recognition as a viable medium for communicating and forconducting business. The World-Wide Web (Web) is comprised ofserver-hosting computers (Web servers) connected to the Internet thathave hypertext documents (referred to as Web pages) stored there within.Web pages are accessible by client programs (e.g., Web browsers)utilizing the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) via a TransmissionControl Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) connection between aclient-hosting device and a server-hosting device. While HTTP and Webpages are the prevalent forms for the Web, the Web itself refers to awide range of protocols including Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTPS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and Gopher, and Web contentformats including plain text, HyperText Markup Language (HTML),Extensible Markup Language (XML), as well as image formats such asGraphics Interchange Format (GIF) and Joint Photographic Experts Group(JPEG).

A Website is conventionally a related collection of Web files thatincludes a beginning file called a “home” page. From the home page, avisitor can access other files and applications at a Web site. A largeWeb site may utilize a number of servers, which may or may not bedifferent and which may or may not be geographically dispersed. Forexample, the Web site of the International Business Machines Corporation(www.ibm.com) includes thousands of Web pages and files spread out overmultiple Web servers in locations worldwide.

A Web server (also referred to as an HTTP server) is a computer programthat generally utilizes HTTP to serve files that form Web pages torequesting Web clients. Exemplary Web servers include InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation's family of Lotus Domino® servers, theApache server (available from www.apache.org), and Microsoft's InternetInformation Server (IIS), available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,Wash. A Web client is a requesting program that also generally utilizesHTTP. A browser is an exemplary Web client for use in requesting Webpages and files from Web servers. A Web server waits for a Web client,such as a browser, to open a connection and to request a specific Webpage or application. The Web server then sends a copy of the requesteditem to the Web client, closes the connection with the Web client, andwaits for the next connection.

HTTP allows a browser to request a specific item, which a Web serverthen returns and the browser renders. To ensure that browsers and Webservers can interoperate unambiguously, HTTP defines the exact format ofrequests (HTTP requests) sent from a browser to a Web server as well asthe format of responses (HTTP responses) that a Web server returns to abrowser. Exemplary browsers that can be utilized with the presentinvention include, but are not limited to, Netscape Navigator® (AmericaOnline, Inc., Dulles, Va.) and Internet Explorer® (MicrosoftCorporation, Redmond, Wash.). Browsers typically provide a graphicaluser interface for retrieving and viewing Web pages, applications, andother resources served by Web servers.

As is known to those skilled in this art, a Web page is conventionallyformatted via a standard page description language such as HTML, whichtypically contains text and can reference graphics, sound, animation,and video data. HTML provides for basic document formatting and allows aWeb content provider to specify anchors or hypertext links (typicallymanifested as highlighted text) to other servers. When a user selects aparticular hypertext link, a browser running on the user's client devicereads and interprets an address, called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)associated with the link, connects the browser with a Web server at thataddress, and makes a request (e.g., an HTTP request) for the fileidentified in the link. The Web server then sends the requested file tothe client device, which the browser interprets and renders within adisplay screen.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that the present invention maybe embodied as methods, data processing systems, and/or computer programproducts. Accordingly, the present invention may predominantly take theform of a hardware embodiment, a predominantly software embodimentrunning on general-purpose hardware or an embodiment predominantlycombining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the presentinvention may take the form of a computer program product on acomputer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program codeembodied in the medium. Any suitable computer readable medium may beutilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, ormagnetic storage devices.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentinvention may be written in an object oriented programming language suchas JAVA®, Smalltalk or C++. The computer program code for carrying outoperations of the present invention may also be written in conventionalprocedural programming languages, such as “C”, JavaScript, Visual Basic,TSQL, Pen, or in a functional (or fourth generation) programminglanguage such as Lisp, SML, or Forth. In addition, Microsoft ActiveServer Pages (ASP) technology and Java Server Pages (JSP) technology maybe utilized. PHP is a widely used general-purpose scripting languagethat is especially suited for Web development and can be embedded intoHTML. The program code may execute entirely on one or more Web serversand/or application servers, or it may execute partly on one or more Webservers and/or application servers and partly on a remote computer(i.e., a user's Web client), or as a proxy server at an intermediatepoint in the network. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the Web server through a LAN or a WAN (e.g., an intranet),or the connection may be made through the Internet (e.g., via anInternet Service Provider).

The present invention is described below with reference to block diagramand flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus (systems) and computerprogram products according to an embodiment of the invention. It will beunderstood that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustrations, and combinations of blocks, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create structures for implementing the functions specified inthe block diagram and/or flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function specified in the block diagram and/or flowchartblock or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process or method such thatthe instructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theblock diagram and/or flowchart block or blocks.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that a database is a collectionof data that is organized in tables or other conventional forms oforganization. A database typically includes a database manager and/ordatabase server that facilitates accessing, managing, and updating datawithin the various tables of a database. Exemplary types of databasesthat can be used to implement the product database of the presentinvention include relational databases, distributed databases (databasesthat are dispersed or replicated among different points in a network),and object-oriented databases. Relational, distributed, andobject-oriented databases are well understood by those of skill in theart and need not be discussed further herein. Since the presentinvention preferably includes large quantities of design products suchas kitchen design products in the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a database system that is particularly adapted for storingand searching large numbers of products, such as Oracle 8i Visual ImageRetrieval (VIR) available from Oracle Corp., Redwood Shores, Calif. maybe used. See the Oracle 8i Visual Information Retrieval Data Sheet,March 1999. However, other databases may be used, including IBM's DB2®database, Microsoft's SQL server database, and database products fromSybase and Computer Associates.

The database server is an application server that operates as a“middleman” server between the Web server and the plurality ofdatabases. The database server generally includes program code and logicfor retrieving data from the databases (and from sources external to theWeb site) in response to requests from the Web server. The databaseserver preferably is adapted for searching and storing of large numbersof kitchen design products, such as Oracle VIR. Other commercialdatabase servers that may be utilized as a database server in theillustrated system include Microsoft's SQL server, IBM DB2® UniversalDatabase server, and the WebSphere® Net.Commerce server, the latter twobeing available from International Business Machines Corporation,Armonk, N.Y.

Virtual reality is the simulation of an environment that can berepresented in a three-dimensional display representing width, height,and depth. A virtual reality device can provide a user a user with theability to interact with the virtual simulated environment. Suchinteraction may include full real-time motion with sound and possiblywith tactile and other forms of feedback. The simplest form of virtualreality is a three dimensional image that can be explored interactivelyat a personal computer, usually by manipulating keys or the mouse sothat the content of the image moves in some direction or zooms in orout. More sophisticated efforts involve such approaches as wrap-arounddisplay screens, actual rooms augmented with wearable computers, andjoystick devices that provide a user with the “feel” of display images.A virtual reality device can simulate a real environment such as theinterior of a building or a design space, such as a kitchen. Moreover,the device can display the environment in a variety of formats and froma variety of angles. Changing certain parameter such as the cabinetstyle in a kitchen will result in the changed display, giving the userthe ability to “virtually” preview and tryout various combinations orenvironmental changes before actually performing physical changes in areal space. Virtual reality devices have been widely described includingin U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,085 and references therein.

One of skill in this art will appreciate that a kiosk is generally aterminal for performing tasks, which may be computerized, and whichexists in a specific physical space. In the present invention, a kioskis defined as a device capable of digitally transmitting digitallyencoded signals to a main computer.

Digitally transmitting is the act of sending images, information, orother materials electronically from a device capable of sendingdigitally encoded signals to a device capable of receiving the signals,in a digital format. Digital formats are known to those skilled in theart and will not be further discussed. Similarly, a digitally encodedsignal is an electronic signal in digital format.

A main computer is a device capable of sending and receiving digitallyencoded signals from kiosks. A main computer for purposes of the presentinvention has other capabilities, which may include accessing a databaseof kitchen design products, routing digitally-encoded signals to otherdevices, or serving as general electronic storage media. Generalelectronic storage media is well known to those skilled in this art.

Again, the present invention may be practiced using a single maincomputer, or using a series of electronically linked computers, eachhaving separate and distinct information.

Directed design is the practice and field of arranging and positioningfixtures in an efficient and aesthetically pleasing orientation. Kitchendesign is the practice and field of arranging kitchen areas in anefficient and aesthetically pleasing manner.

Design products are the elements and fixtures particular to a particulardesign application. For example, in the preferred embodiment, kitchendesign products are known to those skilled in the art and are all thoseelements which found in a kitchen area, including but not limited torefrigerators, stoves, sinks, automatic dishwashers and other functionalappliances; cabinets, counter-tops, cabinet doors, and other structuralelements; tables, chairs, lighting fixtures, flooring material, andother decorative elements and furnishings.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that photogrammetry generallyrefers to relativity of dimensions and measurements. In the presentinvention, photogrammetry is the practice of determining the physicaldimensions of objects that appear in a digital image.

In order to use photographs in a computer environment, they must beconverted into digital format. There are several ways to convertphotographs into digital format; they can be obtained directly from adigital camera or scanned into the computer using a scanning device.Once in digital format, photos can be enhanced for printing, or importedinto specific software for dimension extraction (Photogrammetry).Specific areas in the photo can then be highlighted. Thus,photogrammetry for purposes of this invention is the process ofextracting dimensions from two-dimensional photographs. The object(s)from which dimensions need to be extracted must appear in more than onephotograph and viewed from different angles, most preferably fromninety-degree intervals. Also known as photogrammetry in the art,photogrammetry techniques thus allow conversion of images of an objectinto a 3D model. Using a digital camera with known characteristic (lensfocal length, imager size and number of pixels).

A digital image is an image in digital format, defined by a rectangularmatrix of pixels. A pixel is a single point on imaging media, which mayinclude computer monitors, television screens, or other devices capableof displaying an image in digital format.

Conventionally, in photogrammetry, images of an existing structure orlocation are captured; the images are then scanned into a computer. Fromthe scanned images the computer can dimension the building to within anaccuracy of a few millimeters.

The dimensions of objects in the digital image can be determineddirectly by examining and converting corresponding pixel dimensions ofthe image by means of an appropriate scale factor. A pixel dimension isthe distance between two pixels, measured as the number of pixelsrepresented by the straight line between to pixels, and is thereforerelated to the real dimension of the image according to the followingrelationship: Real Dimension=(Pixel Dimension) (Scale Factor). The ScaleFactor is defined by a set of intrinsic parameters, which may be uniqueto each image, and has units of length/pixel. Turning to FIG. 1 shows aflow chart indicating an exemplary interaction of a client at a kiosk 1for kitchen design. It is understood that the screens and options may bedesigned in a variety of ways providing a variety of options. The kiosk1 presents the client/user with a screen of options includinginformation about directed design at 110, receiving a digital camera at120, kitchen design 130, browsing catalogues for kitchen design productsat 141 and for a quick price quote on selected items at 140. In additionthe client/user has the option to login to an already existing accountat 111. If the client/user is already a member, having previouslyestablished an account, he can access stored data 113 or check on otherproject information such as design products selected for the project,which are associated with the account 114 or store additional data orinformation such as digital images 115. The data may be reviewed with asales representative 126 or with a designer 127. If product has beenselected the client/user may confirm the purchase 128. If theclient/user opts to receive a digital camera 120 they create an account,thereby gaining membership 320. Entry of design requirements is storedat 124 and may be sent to a remote computer via electronic mail 125. Ifthe client elected to browse for design products at 141 they may alsoelect to display visual images of the products at the terminal 142 andselect design products and confirm for ordering at 128. Purchase iscomplete and the transaction closed 145. If a client user has elected toreceive a quotation for selected design product 140, the information isstored in the member account 143 and the quote is delivered 144 eitherto the kiosk or via mail, e-mail, telephone or other client/userselected means. FIG. 2 details the interaction of the client/user whoelects to receive a digital camera 120 in the example described inFIG. 1. Account information is collected and stored 320 thereby creatingmembership. This information includes personal information 220 andcredit card information 221 and may include a membership fee. Live helpis available at 222 at which time the client/user may elect to receiveaccount information via electronic mail or other delivery means such astelephonic or hard copy via mail 231. The selected digital camera isissued for the account and delivered to the client/user at the kiosk orby other conventional delivery means such as through the mail 232. Theclient/user captures digital images of the space requiring design andtransmits the images to the designer 251 either using his home personalcomputer 233 or at a kiosk 234 or by conventional mail delivery of thecamera or the memory card there from 235. The Designer confirms andclarifies the images received by contacting the client/user 233 andproceeds to create the design and transmit the design to the maincomputer in a format accessible through client's account but notaccessible by other client accounts 224. The client/user and theDesigner review together the prepared design and any selected designproducts 225. Turning now to FIG. 3, the client/user information istransmitted to the main computer 340 including account information 320,kitchen design information 321 and selected design products 322, digitalimages taken by the client/user 324 and information received by theDesigner 341. In addition the approved design plan and any transactionalinformation 333 are stored at the main computer 340. FIGS. 4-12 show apreferred embodiment describing touch screen options at a kiosk. Aninitial “Splash” screen also known as a Welcome Page is typicallygraphically appealing and simple and may involve a revolving movie, nosound, hitting the high points and advantages of directed design, in apreferred embodiment, directed kitchen design also known as virtualkitchen design or VKD. The splash screen invites a client/user to “TouchScreen to begin”. Initial options are “ABOUT US” or in the preferredembodiment, “About Virtual Kitchen Design” which provides a companyprofile, in this preferred embodiment, about VKD. Additional optionsdescribe cabinet and countertop lines, short descriptions of each vendorcompany and lead to screens such as “browse our catalogues”. “Live Help”provides answers to questions from a human, advising a client/user topick up a phone, which may be attached to the kiosk or which may be avirtual telephonic connection mediated via an Internet connection. Otherscreens provide information including a library of frequently askedquestions also known as FAQ. An option is provided to “MEET MY DESIGNERNOW” initiating an interface with a directed design designer which maybe effected electronically and with video and/or telephonic connection.A “Quick Quote” screen facilitates price comparisons with other designproduct vendors. “Preview Design” or in this preferred embodiment,“Preview Kitchen Design” provides the client/user with a visual image ofa paradigmatic design kitchen with average features for each level ofcabinet line. Price ranges may be selected by the client/user.

Example

A use of the present invention is illustrated by the following example.

Example Kitchen Design

Client arrives at vendor location and activates direct design kiosk,marked as “Kitchen Cabinetry Direct Design with video and audio assistto a live vendor sales representative. Using the kiosk touch screen, theclient has options to choose from such as (a) “Get your digital cameranow” thereby creating an client user account; (b) “Browse cabinetrycatalogue”; (c) “Talk to a Representative” with or without live video;(d) “Call Me Back”; (e) “Order Now”.

Client selects the digital camera option, which is provided by thevendor to meet certain specifications facilitating photogrammetricextraction of dimensional data from two-dimensional images. Clientcreates a client user account including secure payment information suchas credit card information and secure personal and contact information,thereby facilitating computer-mediated maintenance of client userspecifications. The information is entered at the kiosk using theintegrated video touch screen, which is well known in the art. The kiosktransmits the client information to a main computer, which stores on acomputer media client information.

Client receives the digital camera either by mail or directly throughthe kiosk or by distribution of a vendor coupon voucher. Client alsoreceives specific instructions for obtaining images of the locationclient requires for design. Client places a ruler in the visual field ofthe image to establish a measuring standard or reference point. However,photogrammetric analysis obviates the requirement of a dimensionalstandard. The instructions indicate that digital images may betransmitted to the main computer either through a direct phone link, byphysically sending the memory media storing the images, or via Internettransmission. Client opts to transmit the images via the Internet usinghis personal home computer.

Client is then contacted directly by the designer confirming receipt ofthe digital images and initiating the designer-client personalrelationship. The designer then creates a plan conforming to client'sgeneral specifications and requirements and transmits the design indigital form to the main computer in a form that is securely accessiblefrom client's specific account but not accessible from other clientaccounts. Client is informed that the design and account information isalso available at the kiosk location upon entry of required accountsecurity information. Client reviews the design plan on his homecomputer and contacts the designer by telephone with severalmodifications. Client and designer simultaneously view the design planand make revisions in real-time as the designer operates the designsoftware in response to client's directions. Client reviews the designplan and makes cabinet style selections and orders the selections from aprovided vendor on-line catalogue, using a secure account algorithm.Client visits a vendor location and views countertop styles in personand then logs onto his account using a kiosk located at the vendorlocation. Client makes places his order.

Client takes the before and after “after” pictures using the provideddigital camera, transmits the digital images to the main computer viahis home personal computer internet connection and stores the images inhis account for future reference.

Throughout this application, various publications and patents and patentapplications are referenced. The disclosures of these publications intheir entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into thisapplication in order to more fully describe the state of the art.

This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in otherways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristicsthereof. The present disclosure is therefore to be considered as in allrespects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the inventionbeing indicated by the appended claims, and all changes which comewithin the meaning and range of equivalency are intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for generating a design plan for aphysical space comprising: providing a main computer having a databaseof design products; providing a remote computer that is capable ofcommunicating with the main computer via the internet; placing an objectwithin a physical space; directing a camera toward the physical space;using the camera to capture a first digital image of the physical space,wherein said object is visible within the first digital image; changingthe angle at which the camera is directed toward the physical space andusing the camera to capture a second digital image of the physicalspace, wherein said object is visible within the second digital image,wherein the object placed within the physical space is a ruler, andwherein the ruler is visible within the captured first and seconddigital images; transmitting the first and second digital images to themain computer; photogrammetrically assimilating the transmitted firstand second digital images to produce a three-dimensional data setrendering of the physical space; using the three-dimensional data setrendering to create a design plan for the physical space; storing thedesign plan for the physical space on the main computer; using theremote computer for accessing the design plan for the physical spacefrom the main computer.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingproviding a design center computer operable by a human design plancreator that is in communication with the main computer.
 3. The methodof claim 2, further comprising using the design center computer forcreating the design plan.
 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:designing by non-automated means by the human design plan creator, thedesign plan using information extracted from the captured digitalimages, wherein the human design plan creator selects a design productfrom the database of design products; and adding the selected designproduct to the three-dimensional data set rendering of the physicalspace to create the design plan for the physical space.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, further comprising transmitting the design plan for thephysical space from the design center computer to the main computer. 6.The method of claim 5, further comprising providing for remote access tothe design plan stored on the main computer.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising providing an interactive kiosk operable by a designplan user that is in communication with the main computer.
 8. The methodof claim 7, further comprising exchanging data between the main computerand the interactive kiosk, wherein the design plan user can establishand access a design plan user account for maintaining and managing thedesign plan and the three-dimensional data set rendering of the physicalspace extracted from the captured digital images.
 9. The method of claim1, wherein the database of design products comprises individuallyidentifiable design products having selectable product characteristics.10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the digital images hasdigitally encoded signals representing an image of the physical space.11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying thedesign plan on the remote computer.
 12. The method of claim 1, whereinthe remote computer is located at a vendor of the design products. 13.The method of claim 1, wherein the design plan is selected from thegroup consisting of a kitchen design plan, a landscaping design plan, abuilding design plan, an interior design plan, an exterior design plan,a clothing design plan and a product placement design plan.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising storing a plurality of kitchendesign products in the main computer, and displaying the kitchen designproducts on the remote computer in response to user search criteria. 15.The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing a known distancein the captured digital images using the ruler visible in the capturedigital images, wherein the known distance having a first point and anend point; dividing the known distance by the number of pixelsrepresented on a straight line between the first point and the end pointof the known distance; measuring a pixel distance on the captureddigital images, the pixel distance having a first pixel and a lastpixel, wherein the pixel distance is the number of pixels represented onthe straight line between the first pixel and the last pixel; andmultiplying the pixel distance by a scale factor.
 16. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining a plurality ofcomputers that exchange information about the design products with themain computer.
 17. A method of generating a design plan for a physicalspace comprising: providing a main computer having a database of designproducts, wherein the main computer exchanges data with a remotecomputer, and exchanges data with a design center computer operable by ahuman design plan creator, wherein the database of design productscomprises individually identifiable design products having selectableproduct characteristics; providing a remote computer that is capable ofcommunicating with the main computer via the internet; placing a rulerwithin a physical space; directing a camera toward the physical space;using the camera to capture a first digital image of the physical space,wherein said ruler is visible within the first digital image; changingthe angle at which the camera is directed toward the physical space andusing the camera to capture a second digital image of the physicalspace, wherein said object ruler is visible within the second digitalimage; transmitting the first and second digital images to the maincomputer; designing by non-automated means by the human design creator,a design plan using information extracted from the transmitted digitalimages, wherein the human design plan creator selects at least onedesign product from the database of design products, and adds theselected design product to the rendering on the main computer so as toproduce at least one three-dimensional data set rendering on the maincomputer displaying the selected design product as part of therendering.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: storing thedesign plan in the design center computer; transmitting the storeddesign plan from the design center computer to the main computer;providing a remote link to the design plan stored on the design centercomputer; exchanging data between the main computer and anelectronically linked interactive kiosk, wherein the design plan usercan establish and access a design plan user account for maintaining andmanaging the design plan.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the designplan comprises a kitchen design plan.
 20. A method for generating adesign plan for a physical space comprising: providing a main computerhaving a database of design products; placing a ruler within a physicalspace; directing a camera toward the physical space; using the camera tocapture a first digital image of the physical space, wherein said ruleris visible within the first digital image; changing the angle at whichthe camera is directed toward the physical space and using the camera tocapture a second digital image of the physical space, wherein said ruleris visible within the second digital image; transferring the first andsecond digital images to the main computer; photogrammetricallyassimilating the first and second digital images to produce athree-dimensional data set rendering of the physical space; using thethree-dimensional data set rendering to create a design plan for thephysical space; storing the design plan for the physical space on themain computer.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: providinga remote computer in communication with the main computer via theinternet; and using the remote computer for accessing the design planfor the physical space from the main computer, wherein the design planis selected from the group consisting of a kitchen design plan, alandscaping design plan, a building design plan, an interior designplan, an exterior design plan, a clothing design plan and a productplacement design plan.